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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thought-provoking and fun... this book is going to make a BIG splash!, September 1, 2007
This debut of author Robin Brande is an incredible start to what promises to be a very long and interesting career. How many writers would dare tackle the subject of such controversy (Darwin vs. the Church) in a first novel? That takes courage, and Robin is more than up for the challenge. She has willingly left herself open to scrutiny, yet the honest reflection in the journey of the hero (14 year old, Mena) is going to soften those blows.
From alienation, cliques, first love, tolerance, religion, sexuality and more, this book captures the struggles of teens to find their place in this world. It also challenges readers to understand why they believe what they believe -- is it blind faith based on what someone tells you to believe, or do you challenge other presuppositions and put in some sweat equity on your own so you really know WHY you believe something? Beyond that, it helps teach how to treat people who don't quite think like you do.
Personally I have not come to the same conclusion on evolution and Creationism as the author, but I don't find that to be off-putting. In fact, I appreciate the challenge and would hope that the people who read this book (especially teens) take the time to research why they would agree or disagree with the conclusions of this story to better understand their own beliefs.
Beyond the potential controversy, I had a blast reaching back into my past and remembering what it was like to be in high school. Robin has a magical way of capturing that inner 14 year old that is still alive inside of her, and making that character jump off the page. And this book isn't just for girls -- Lord of the Rings plays a heavy role (as it should in every aspect of our lives ;)!
Kudos to the writer. I can't wait for her sophomore release. The bar has been set very high!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
great read!, October 2, 2007
I can usually tell how much I like a book, by how long it takes me to read it. I read "Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature" in one evening. Mina, the main character, gets kicked out of her church, loses her friends, and makes her parents angry for something that's not really her fault. When a teacher starts talking about Evolution, Mina gets a chance to fight back.
I think most teenagers are fighting battles of one sort or another, so it's great to read about someone else who's fighting. Good characters, good dialogue, and a story that moves along quickly makes for a fun book.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Intriguing Read, August 29, 2007
This, by no means, is the best book I've ever read, but it is a very interesting, thought-provoking book. Evolution delves into the inner workings of "Christian circles" and exposes some of their shortcomings. It also explores how a Christian can believe in the bible as well as evolution.
The book is about a girl named Mena who has done something that has got her banned from her church. All her "friends" won't talk to her, and her parents barely say a word to her. Mena still stands by what she did, and says it was the right thing to do. As the story unfolds Mena learns to forgive herself with the help of her new friend Casey.
***This book, at first glance, would seem to be a Christian Fiction book, but this is not just true. The lessons and controversies could be appreciated by any religion or nonreligion.***
Samfroggie
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